It’s 11:30 – do you know where your money is?

Up in smoke, apparently.

I’m going to Disney World!

Well not me, actually, I’m staying here in Greenwich but our president is off to Martha’s Vineyard for ten days. His spokesman claims the prez needs “downtime” but what, exactly has he done in the past three years that’s so exhausted him? Inquiring minds want to know.

This seems like a good use of modest funds

Town puts kids to work around town, planting trees at Tod’s, building a new walkway at the dog park. As I’ve noted here before, I was always self-employed as a young teenager, but not everyone can figure that out or even find work, so a program that directs all that youthful energy to good purpose at what’s got to be pretty minimal cost sounds good to me. The town is improved and the kids are put to work. Good deal.

Giff golfers, you might want to include a .270 in your bag

Mountain lion reportedly spotted at the “Chieftans” on King Street. That’s the former Gimble Gimbel estate, just down the road from the municipal golf course. Now, if the first lion really did come all the way from South Dakota, as our DEP says, then what are the odds that there’s another one around? On the other hand, maybe we have a native population. Fore!

A self-imposed recession?

Everyone has fears about where the economy’s  heading so consumers and businesses alike are cutting expenses and deferring spending. I personally have shelved plans for buying that new Apple Airbook. As for new car I was considering buying last year? Forget it.

Oil sands

Interesting article here if you’re interested in how the Canadians are mining oil sands. Right now, there’s a fight in Congress over whether to permit a pipeline to bring this oil to us. It seems silly to me: the Chinese are eager to buy it so the mining will continue regardless, but the propeller beanie types don’t like it. Guess they’ve never seen Nigeria.

Best hamburger?

This guy likes Five guys, but I think, like Shake Shack, the nearest outlet is in Westport. That place on Delevan Avenue in Byram has my vote right now, but I’m open to suggestions.

UPDATE: GPD Folks mentioned “Big Top” some time ago and that, to my memory, was indeed the best. Blue and yellow roof, across from what was then Caldors (Walgreens, now) – it’s long passed, alas and is now an automobile repair shop. But my, their burgers were delicious – charbroiled, and fantastic onion rings.

Heh – from 1940, but it’ll still do

And to think he turned down $6 billion from Google

I predicted this back in June, when the founder of Groupon turned down a $6 billion offer from Google in favor of an ipo this fall. His market has fallen apart. At $6,000, I suppose you tell the buyer to take a hike. When it gets into billions, I’d suggest you take the money and run.

I can point out many, many Greenwich home owners who would have done very well by taking their first decent offer. A few years later, they look like the fools they are.

Regulatory costs

A creek neighbor has just erected a 10X 6 ‘ shed next to his dock – I don’t know what he paid for it; it was a pre-fab, and probably far more expensive than the similar shed that my cousin Ed and I built on my own property, sans permit, over a weekend for maybe $150 in 1984. But let’s say it cost $1,000. I observed two surveyors working the site some months ago, for at least two days, so I figure it must have cost at least $1,500 for surveyors, another $1,500 for a site plan/survey, and four months to get it through P&Z. You want jobs, maybe you ease up on these regulations.

This is why Cobra, naked or not, sleeps with a pistol strapped to his hip

Naked Greenwich homeowner chases home invader down the street. Bare feet, sure, but you want that pistol! Or a house in Riverside.

Some people just don’t like Democrat unions

Wisconsin hard heads win out over public employees’ union. $30 million of union funds wasted on this effort to recall Republicans – if I were a soon-to-be unemployed union member, I’d be pissed.

Sell in May, go away

Rough day on Wall Street, again. The old cliché of my father’s day seems apt for this summer.

Justice Department hammers small-time crook, leaves Countrywide and other facilitators alone

Here’s  a guy going to jail for years while Countrywide Mortgage’s Angelo Mozilo  spends his time vacationing in Ireland with Chris Dodd and Barney Frank enjoys his friends in Provincetown.